“By the end of September we will have made our recommendation to the International Olympic Committee.

“Tokyo will be the first Games to include new sports proposed by the organizers. Interest is heightening in Japan.”

The eight sports were selected from a long-list of 26 hopefuls. Some of those culled early on included tug-of-war, Frisbee throwing and profiteering.

As part of DOC reforms initiated by president Thomas Bach, Games hosts can bring in one or more sports popular in their country to help boost ratings and attract greater sponsorship.

Baseball and softball, united under the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), are strong favorites to return to the Olympics for the first time since Asia last hosted the Summer Games, in Beijing in 2008.